Year 9

The move to Senior School can be both exciting and daunting. At the heart of a smooth and successful transition is ensuring that each child feels confident, secure, and happy in their new environment and alongside their peers. In every pupil, we aim to develop a spirit of curiosity, a sense of self-worth, and the highest standards of behaviour, while supporting them to fulfil their potential.Alongside a strong emphasis on the core subjects of English, Mathematics, and Science, we consider languages to be important, offering French and Spanish within the core timetable. Creativity thrives in our Art, Music, and Drama programmes, while History and Geography lessons provide pupils with an understanding of our world, both past and present.Computing offers exciting opportunities to understand and control new technologies. Physical Education and Games promote health and fitness, as well as opportunities to develop skills and attitudes towards individual endeavour and teamwork. The moral and ethical dimensions explored in PSHE and Religious Education further enrich the curriculum, resulting in a programme that is broad, balanced, intellectually demanding, and enjoyable.EAL is offered as a specialist subject throughout Senior School.Detailed and accurate tracking and monitoring are underpinned by our use of the Cambridge CEM assessments programme, with pupils taking MIDYIS tests in Year 7, YELLIS tests in Year 10, and ALIS tests in Year 12. These tests measure developed ability—the pupils underlying learning potential—rather than achievement based on the curriculum, providing an excellent way to identify each pupil’s learning profile. Based on these results, and our own knowledge of the pupil, we can produce strategies to build on strengths and target areas requiring additional support.Our aim is to ensure that every pupil fulfils their academic potential. Progress is regularly measured and tracked through progress checks, with results reported to parents.